1st Pick Hope: Caleb Farley, his injury history is a bit scary but he has the raw potential to be the best CB that's come out of a draft since Alexander (heck if you want to just talk pure raw potential, maybe even best since Marshon Lattimore and Tre'Davious White. I can't promise you he'll reach that elite potential, but he physically has shown that it was possible for him to be absolutely elite.
Originally Posted by: beast
Some more has reportedly come out about his injuries (if true, and not some team just releasing negative news hoping he slides to them), sounds like CB Caleb Farley injury could of been a hell lot worse than thought, including two back surgery and might not have full feelings in a row still.
If the Packers deem this to be true, I wouldn't doubt if he's completely off their draft board. And literally his career could be anything from barely plays to elite all-star and anywhere in between.
But Gute likes positional value high in the draft and likes great athletes (unless it's offensive blocking position (OL/TE), then he's taken less less athletic guys).
I'm having trouble narrowing down on a single position, much less a single player... also this draft is loaded with WRs... there should be will still be very interesting options in the 3rd round where there few but not too many CBs and especially OTs.
So I'm thinking Gute's tie breaking position order will be CB, OT, WR, Edge. But yes, an edge player potentially could be the most talented play left on the board.
The elite CBs without injury history will be taken... Farley and Newsome might fall, but they haven't stayed on the field either despite having great potential. Farley has elite potential, think Sam Shields but more developed and larger and bigger wing span, but even if you do trick him, he's got that elite catch up speed where you ain't gonna be open long. Newsome just has amazing slot CB like extremely quick footwork, best and smoothest footwork of any CB in this draft, with average size, and plays smart.
There is also Asante Samuel Jr., whom is generally ranked lower and less athletic, but some feel would just be an absolute perfect fit for this system. His smarts in reading the offense is elite, and sometimes he'll break for where the ball will be before the WR.
It's impossible to say how the OTs will go, as some of them are more RTs/OGs but the group is deeper and there is certainly a need. Also how Gute values them. If someone like USC's OL Alijah Vera-Tucker is left, wouldn't surprise me in the slightest for Gute to select him, though he played LT least year, he was an OG before that and fits the mold more of an OG or RT, but Back, Vera-Tucker, Jenkins, RG and Turner could make one hell of an OL and give us two interior guys that could swing to OT if needed. But in most mocks, I haven't been overly excited, but all depends do teams go for the OTs or edge rushers more? I'm going with the theory the OTs will be gone, because the NFL has been lacking OTs and while this group lacks elite guys, it's probably got the most top 50 OT draft guys in a while.
Which leaves me to WR, where I'm thinking
~ Rashod Bateman, GREAT release footwork, could be the next Adams, but he's less exciting as he doesn't play with great pure speed, even though testing says he's got it.
~ Terrace Marshall Jr., height, speed, route running, seems like a Gute guy all the way, but he's generally rated later and he was the #3 WR for most of his career behind to elite WRs. And he finally got to be a full time starter in 2020, and seemed like he was frustrated all season and opted out before the season was over.
~ Kadarius Toney, no one has his elite movement skills, but he's shockingly undeveloped and a one year hit wonder after dealing with injuries. On one hand, just get him the ball and he's electric. On the other hand, he might never fully develop... and just realize on his natural athletic gifts and doesn't truely study the game.
~ Elijah Moore, he's small, Gute doesn't like small, but great speed and quickness, great routes and for a small guy he surprisingly wins most of his contested catches, he does a great job fighting for the ball.
~ Rondale Moore, also small, Gute doesn't like small, but he's strong as hell, I've seen him run over runs in ways RB Eddie Lacy never did... never seen a tiny guy be so strong and physically as him, he's a weight room freak, led college in broken tackles as a freshman, then has dealt with some injuries, he's route running isn't as good as Elijah Moore, nor I he as good with contested catches, but Rondale makes it extremely hard to tackle him, because he's so tiny, so powerful and he's going to fight for more yards. Using him as a speed sweeps might be extremely interesting.
I haven't looked at the edge rushers as much, as I don't think it's going that way, but there are some good ones there.